Royal Caribbean Blog

Florida is now on the receiving end of a lawsuit regarding the cruise industry restarting.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) has sued the State of Florida because of its ban on companies operating within the state asking customers if they are vaccinated or not.

In May, Florida passed a new law that among other things, bans Covid-19 vaccine passports in the state.

The ban prohibits businesses, schools, and government agencies from requiring people to show documentation certifying COVID-19 vaccinations or post-infection recovery before gaining entry.

The bill took effect on July 1, 2021.

Hat tip to The Points Guy for alerting us to this news.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court on Tuesday by NCLH and is directed at Florida's Surgeon General, Scott Rivkees.

In the lawsuit, NCLH wants an injunction against the state law.

According to Norwegian, the law prevents them from operating cruise ships safely, "NCLH is doing so as a last resort after the State of Florida has indicated that it is otherwise preventing NCLH from safely and soundly resuming passenger cruise operations from Miami, Florida, starting August 15, 2021, in the way that this cruise line has determined will be best for all concerned—with the benefit of documentation confirming that all of its passengers and crew have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19."

NCLH believes the law puts them, "in an impossible dilemma" to operate sailings from Florida.  In their view, they would either have to be "on the wrong side of health and safety" or on the wrong side of Florida law.

As a result, the lawsuit is the cruise line's only option.

Violating Florida's law and asking for proof of vaccination would cost the company $5,000 per passenger in fines.

If the injunction is not granted, Norwegian would not be able to offer cruises from Florida, which would be a "devastating, unrecoverable loss for everyone" including the cruise line, as well as tens of thousands of passengers, employees, and stakeholders who rely on the cruise industry.

As of July 9, the CDC approved the Norwegian Gem to begin sailings, and Norwegian's plan is for requiring proof that 100% of passengers and crew have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

In addition to living up to the requirements of federal law, which require at least 95% of cruise ship passengers to be fully vaccinated, NCLH believes the "potential spread of the severe and highly contagious Delta variant is another factor driving NCLH’s decision to require 100% vaccination on its voyages."

"If the Florida Ban is enforced against NCLH, however, these voyages will be placed at risk of cancellation, disruption, and possible COVID-19 outbreak, resulting in a substantial loss of revenue, losses of wages for NCLH’s crew, harm to NCLH’s brand, goodwill, and reputation with past and potential passengers, as well as substantial, adverse impacts on interstate and foreign commerce. Worst of all, human life and safety would be placed at undue risk."

How is Florida's ban affecting Royal Caribbean?

Unlike Norwegian, Royal Caribbean is not seeking all, or even 95% of its cruise passengers, be fully vaccinated.

Instead, Royal Caribbean came up with specific rules for cruise ships sailing from Florida ports, where it is up to the guest to voluntarily inform the cruise line they are vaccinated.

As a workaround, guests are given an online form to optionally disclose if they vaccinated.

If the guest states they are not vaccinated, or does not answer, Royal Caribbean will treat them as an unvaccinated passenger.

Unvaccinated passengers may not have access to all venues onboard a ship, such as certain restaurants, bars, or lounges.

Unvaccinated passengers get a hole punched in their SeaPass card, while fully vaccinated passengers wear a wristband to easily identify them as vaccinated to other guests and crew.

In other states that Royal Caribbean is planning to sail from, vaccine mandates are in place.

Your chance to help test out a Royal Caribbean cruise ship as it prepares to return to service might be coming soon.

Royal Caribbean posted on Facebook that it will begin picking randomly from its list of well over a quarter of a million volunteers to come aboard a test cruise.

The cruise line has received over 350,000 registrations from cruise fans who would love to go on a complimentary cruise in exchange for testing out new health protocols onboard.

According to Royal Caribbean's post, they will pick the lucky folks this week, and invite them to go on an upcoming simulated voyage.

Test cruises are mandated sailings by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) that are necessary before a ship can be approved to sail with paying passengers again.

Thus far, two Royal Caribbean cruise ships have conducted test sailings, Freedom of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas.

At least five more test sailings are scheduled between now and the end of July, with another two very likely.

• Allure of the Seas – July 27 from Port Canaveral
• Symphony of the Seas – Aug. 1 from PortMiami
• Independence of the Seas –  Aug. 1 from Port of Galveston
• Mariner of the Seas – Aug. 11 from Port Canaveral
• Oasis of the Seas – Aug. 22 from Cape Liberty
• Ovation of the Seas no date set, but CDC just waiting on confirmation from Royal Caribbean it has installed its laboratory testing equipment and tested its crew
• Odyssey of the Seas planned out of Port Everglades (Royal Caribbean International to provide sailing dates)

Read more: Everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean test cruises

"The time is here," Royal Caribbean announced with excitement. "This week we’ll be randomly selecting and extending invites to registered Volunteers to participate in upcoming simulation cruises."

If you have already applied, keep checking your email "in the coming days" for an invite.

If you haven't registered yet, please do so at: https://bit.ly/VolunteersoftheSeas.

Royal Caribbean will shut down new registrations for test cruises tonight, July 13, 2021, at 11:59 PM EST.

Why is Royal Caribbean doing test cruises?

Some have wondered why Royal Caribbean International did not follow sister brand Celebrity Cruises in mandating 95% of its guests be fully vaccinated, and it has to do with the fact Royal Caribbean International is a family brand.

The simple answer is families, as Royal Caribbean is a family brand and too many children are not eligible yet to be vaccinated. 

Royal Caribbean International's senior vice president of Hotel Operations, Mark Tamis, emphasized the decision to conduct test sailings was an easy one for the cruise line, "When the first set of potential regulations were published, it was such an obvious choice of the path that we had to go down."

"Once there were two clear paths, 95% or under 95%, it wasn’t even really a consideration."

Mr. Tamis called the decision "obvious" given how many kids sail with Royal Caribbean, along with the cruise line's dedication to remaining a family brand. "A good 20 to 25 percent of our guests are kids."

Read more: Families and kids are the reason why Royal Caribbean is doing test cruises

Who is eligible for a test cruise?

The minimum requirements to be a volunteer will be you must be 18 or older, as well as have written proof the person has no pre-existing medical conditions that would place them at high-risk for Covid-19.

One of the things Royal Caribbean worked on during the 15 month shutdown was revamping its fleetwide beverage menu.

Across Royal Caribbean's ships, the base menu for cocktails, mocktails, and low/no alcohol drinks has been updated.

Rest assured, all of your favorite, typical vacation cocktails are still available, such as piña coladas, daiquiris, and mojitos.  This new menu is an opportunity to bring new drink ideas to guests who might be interested in something different.

This new menu will be available at all bars and lounges which do not have a specialized menu of their own.  

You will be able to find this menu at locations like the Schooner Bar, Viking Crown Lounge, Boleros and more.

Off the bat, you can see the menu pays homage to the Caribbean islands, with not only the name of each drink, but the country where it was invented.

Colorful maps are included to provide context.

Something else you may notice is Royal Caribbean has licensed certain drinks, such as the Dark 'n Stormy and Pain killer.

For a bar to sell a drink with the official name, they need to serve the cocktail with the official liquor and ensure the pour is accurate, per the manufacturer's requirements.

Of course, Royal Caribbean has plenty of beers to pick from as well.

While you won't find as many beers on a cruise ship as on land, they stock some of the most popular types, both foreign and domestic.

If wine is your thing, you'll find a selection of wines by the glass or by the bottle.

Not all wines are available by the glass, but there are various brands from regions around the world.

If you purchase a bottle of wine, you can bring it to any bar, restaurant, or even back to your cabin to enjoy as you see fit.

A trend Royal Caribbean looked to capitalize on with its new drink menu are cocktails that aren't super sweet or "heavy" so that guests can enjoy the drinks with less guilt.

These sort of drinks are ideal for consuming outdoors in the warm Caribbean sun.

If you're looking for a shot or liquor served neat, there are a wide array of choices.

Not only are these liquors available to choose from, but most are included with a Royal Caribbean drink package.

Another trend Royal Caribbean is hopping on is the low-alcohol and no-alcohol drinks bandwagon.

Whether someone doesn't drink alcohol or simply wants to limit the amount they intake, these can be great alternatives.

The new menu is inspired by some of the signature Caribbean islands Royal Caribbean has traditionally visited, and as a way of honoring these destionations, a popular drink recipe was highlighted from each spot.

Linken D'​Souza, Global Vice President Culinary, Dining & Beverage, talked about the menu change as an opportunity to move the menu offerings forward.

He said his team worked on, "identifying drinks that are really signature drinks to those islands and bringing them onboard the ship."

"We've really leveraged that time to to focus on the program, fine-tune the experience, build these amazing cocktails."

"It's like bringing a port of call to your experience onboard the ship. And maybe you have the cocktail on board and you get off from the island and you say, hey, I got to get one of those here to see how close they are."

Some of the new signature cocktails that Royal Caribbean highlighted include:

• Goombay Smash (Bahamas)
• Planter's Punch (Jamaica)
• Papa Jac (Puerto Rico)
• The Painkiller (British Virgin Islands)
• Dark 'n Stormy (Bermuda)
• Rum Puinch (Barbados)

The new drink menus are available on all the cruise ships in the fleet.

One of the highest rated places to spend a day while your cruise is I. Freeport, Grand Bahama Island is the Grand Lucayan resort. What is it like spending your day there, and is it worth it?

Royal Caribbean is in negotiations to purchase this resort as the centerpiece for a massive new project, but in the meantime the resort is in a state of limbo as most of it remains shutdown. 

Nonetheless, the Grand Lucayan is a compelling choice for a shore excursion for families looking to spend the day by the beach or pool. 

Overview

The Grand Lucayan resort has a long history as the premier hotel on Grand Bahama Island, but lapses in ownership combined with hurricane damage have left the resort in a less than ideal situation. The resort is owned by the Bahamian government at the moment, although Royal Caribbean has intentions to purchase the resort and transform it into a new world-class destination with a one-of-a-kind hotel, convention center, water adventure park and more.

In the meantime, the Grand Lucayan is split among two resorts: The Grand Lucayan and Lighthouse Pointe at Grand Lucayan.  Currently, only Lighthouse Pointe is open.

Cruise ship passengers can purchase an all-inclusive day pass to the resort by calling the resort directly. At the time we visited, the day pass rate is $75 per adult, and $65 for kids.

The all inclusive option includes food and drinks at all the restaurants at Lighthouse Pointe, house wines by the glass, local beers, and bottled beers and some premium liquors.

Perrier Water, Vitamin water, Gatorade, Wine by the bottle, and top shelf brands are not included.

You also have to pay for a taxi to get to or from the resort, which costs about $35 each way.

Like most hotels that offer a day pass, you check-in at the front desk and are given wristbands for use during the day.

The two big things that the Grand Lucayan offers is a large infinity pool and sprawling beach.

There is also a lap pool and hot tub you can use. Kids are not allowed in the hot tub.

The beach was manicured and groomed, with little debris around. While it was overcast on the day we visited, the ocean was lovely and the sand at the beach was powdery soft.

There are lots of chairs and umbrellas near the pool, and a few chairs under palapas at the beach. On the day we visited, there was no waiter service, but there is a nearby bar that opened at 11am to get drinks and food.

The pool bar has a menu of burgers, wings, fish and salads to choose from.  I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food.

All the food and drinks we ordered were included with the all inclusive option, so it was just a matter of signing off for what we ordered for the pool bar's record keeping.

Comments

Being a day guest, the resort delivered exactly what it advertised: a relaxing day by the pool or beach with food and drinks to enjoy.

Clearly the resort is in need of upkeep, and in the case of the other side of the resort, a major gutting and rework.  It sounds like if Royal Caribbean completes the deal to purchase the resort, that will be in the plan.

On our visit, it was quite strange that there were barely any other guests around at all. For the first hour or two, we did not see anyone else at the beach or pool.

By the time we departed the resort, we saw perhaps 10 other guests in total. That is not a bad thing, as we got to enjoy the facilities without any crowds, chair hogs, or large groups.  But if you are looking for a lively party atmosphere, it was not there.

Like any all inclusive option, the question comes up of getting your money's worth.  I enjoyed the facilities, but I am quite certain we did not break even on the food or drink included.

Overall, I was happy with our time hanging by the pool, and walking by the ocean. Our ship's time in port (7:00am to 3:30pm) made for a short visit, but it was a nice day.

For 15 months, cruise fans were left wondering when cruises would actually restart.  While that restart is now happening, some questions remain about what to expect going forward.

To be fair, most of these questions have no answers because even Royal Caribbean may not know realistically what to expect, but they remain some of the most frequently asked questions among people who have cruises booked.

If you are as excited as I am about cruises restarting, you might also be tracking these issues. 

The good news, is you are not missing the answer somewhere, but unfortunately there are no answers yet.

Will there be more cruise cancellations?

There are more and more ships restarting, but more cruise cancellations are not out of the question either.

Sailings from Seattle, Galveston and Florida are starting up, but most of the fleet is still sitting idle. So will there be more cruise cancellations, and when can we expect to hear about them?

Australia is going to be shutdown for a while, but even within the scope of North America, when will the parade of cancelled cruises finally come to an end?

How limited is the capacity?

On ships that have restarted, Royal Caribbean has provided no specific guidance for how many passengers each ship will be limited to.

Before any sailings restarted, Royal Caribbean talked in general terms about limited capacity starting out around 40-60%, but some of the early sailings on Freedom of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas appeared to be slightly under that threshold.

So what should cruisers expect in terms of limited capacity for cruises this summer or fall? 

When will limited capacity end?

Piggy-backing on the last question, how long will ships be running at limited capacity?

Not only is Royal Caribbean looking to get its ships back into service, but the company is looking to return to profitability, and that only happens when all of their ships are operating at near peak capacity.

It is anyone's guess how long ships will remain at a limited capacity, although guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) as well as the state of the Covid-19 threat will play a major factor in that decision.

What will the health protocols be like this fall, winter or next year?

Besides limited capacity, many cruisers are eager to know what it will be like onboard when they sail in September and beyond.

Royal Caribbean has released health protocols for July and August, but it is difficult to know what rules will be in place going forward.

Just like limited capacity, the exact protocols may be dictated by where things stand with the global health crisis.

When will the rest of the ships in the fleet restart?

You may have read about scheduled test cruises for a half dozen ships, but what about the other ships in the fleet?

Thus far, we don't know when many ships will be scheduled for test cruises, revenue sailings, or in what order. Royal Caribbean appears to have outlined its summer restart plans, and will see how those go before announcing other options.

Just like the ships sailing this summer, Royal Caribbean plans their cards close to the vest, and that means they will not divulge plans until they are pretty much firmed up.

Cruise fans who love to cruise from ports like Baltimore, San Juan, or Tampa are equally interested to know when ships will return to their homeports.

Read more: Live on Royal Caribbean's first cruise ship to restart from the United States

When will The Key be offered again?

One of the most popular add-ons you can buy for a cruise is The Key, and it has been missing in action since the restart began.

The Key is a program open to guests who wish to pay for added perks and benefits, such as priority embarkation, special access to signature activities, and more.

The Key is very popular among those new to the cruise line, and it is not clear yet when it might come back in the short term.

Read more: Here’s what ‘The Key’ is (and why some cruisers like it)

When will online check-in open for my cruise?

Before the cruise industry shutdown, online check-in always opened at 90 days before sailing, but now when check-in opens up is a surprise.

Online check-in is super important because your check-in time at the terminal matters, and getting a later check-in time means waiting longer to get onboard.

Slowly, online check-in is opening up for more sailings further out, but it is far from standardized across the fleet.

The Coco Beach Club at Perfect Day at CocoCay is a dedicated part of the private island experience for those who value an elevated experience.

Think of the Beach Club as somewhere you can go to pay extra for a limited capacity experience with enhanced dining options.

What do you get with the Coco Beach Club (CBC) for the extra cost, and is it worth it?

Here is what you need to know about the CBC and if you should spend the money to try it out yourself.

Coco Beach Club Overview

Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas, CocoCay, has beaches, pools, and dining options for everyone to enjoy, but the cruise line decided to add an exclusive, brag-worthy spot for those that like that sort of thing.

The island is designed to handle 9,000 - 12,000 guests, but the CBC has a capacity of just a few hundred people. The idea is to have a place where the number of people are limited, and the offerings included are enhanced.

Here is what admission to the Coco Beach Club includes:

• Light breakfast (coffee and pastries)
• Higher quality pool towels
• Access to an exclusive
  • Beach
  • Infinity pool
  • The Clubhouse
  • Beach chairs with umbrellas
• Complimentary dining at the Coco Beach Club restaurant
• Floating mats

In addition to a day pass, there are two types of cabanas you can rent, which include admission into the CBC. The Coco Beach Club cabanas are larger than the cabanas outside of the Coco Beach Club, and come with unlimited bottled water, a dining area, four lounge chairs, a sectional sofa, a fridge, a ceiling fan, lockable storage, and a charging outlet.

The standard beach cabanas are located along the beach and accommodate up to eight guests, plus attendant service.

Floating Cabanas are the largest cabanas offered by Royal Caribbean, and even have a a two-person overwater hammock, a slide that plunges right into the ocean, and your own wet bar.

Read more: Guide to Perfect Day at CocoCay Cabanas

Yes, kids of all ages are allowed into the Coco Beach Club.

What is the cost of the Coco Beach Club?

The price to get into the Coco Beach Club will vary from ship to ship and sailing to sailing.  In short, it depends on your sailing and the prices really run the gamut.

Ever since the CBC opened, lots of cruise fans wanted to try it out for themselves, and prices have definitely trended upwards since then.

It is not unreasonable to see a day pass cost run somewhere between $80 and $180 per person.

As previously mentioned, the cabanas include admission to the CBC, and their prices are a little more stable, albeit not cheap either.

Prices for cabanas will vary, but here is a general ballpark of pricing:

• Coco Beach Club Beach Cabanas: $949 – $1549
• Coco Beach Club Floating Cabanas $1299 – $2199

You can book a day pass or a cabana by visiting Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner website before your sailing. Cabanas sell out first, so be sure to rent one once you know you want one.

Keep in mind that you can always cancel and rebook any purchase without penalty if there is a price drop on these items before your sailing.

Coco Beach Club restaurant

Why go to the Coco Beach Club? Certainly the limited capacity is the primary motivation, but the elevated dining options are truly compelling.

The food served by the Coco Beach Club restaurant is included in your admission, and it is worthy of being a specialty restaurant back onboard.

Cabana Burger, Bahamian lobster rolls, fresh fruit salad and more, plus flavorful entrees like herb-marinated filet mignon, grilled Bahamian lobster, thyme-roasted chicken breast, and garlic tiger prawns — all complimentary with your admission. 

The filet mignon, lobster sandwich, and grouper are all really good choices.  In fact, all the food is excellent, and unlike any other private island dining experience I have ever been to.

Lunch here is served from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., followed by light snacks from 3 p.m. 

If you are in a cabana, your attendant will deliver the food to you. Otherwise, you can stop by the desk and make a reservation time to dine.

Is the Coco Beach Club worth it?

Should you pay extra to go to the Coco Beach Club? It really boils down to how much you value being somewhere exclusive.

The amplified service, dining, and seating choices at the CBC are fantastic.  If you are concerned it may sound nicer than it is, fear not.  The club lives up to what it promises in terms of boosted options.

In fact, the restaurant alone is worth going to at least once.  If there was air conditioning in the restaurant, I might never have left.

Read more: I tried it: Coco Beach Club at Perfect Day at CocoCay

The infinity pool, along with the in-pool loungers and daybeds nearby are equally impressive, and you will find many guests staking out a spot immediately there.

Like so many things in life, it all comes down to the cost and how much you are willing to pay.  Without a doubt, prices have trended up compared to when the club first opened, so the days of spending $40 - $80 per person are likely long gone.  

I think of the CBC like I do a first class airplane seat, a suite at a hotel, or even the express lanes on a highway. You spend extra, not because it is going to necessarily get you a one-to-one return on your investment, but because you don't mind spending more to get more.

Read more: 8 things you should know about the Coco Beach Club before you go

A day at the CBC is about splurging and relaxing, and it delivers on the relaxing.  

Anyone looking to indulge while at Perfect Day at CocoCay will find the Coco Beach Club worthy of their needs.

Happy Sunday! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend and are ready to catch up on all the Royal Caribbean news from this week!

Cruises are back in multiple markets with Royal Caribbean restarting sailings with paying passengers out of Miami, Southampton, and Cyprus.

Three Royal Caribbean ships resumed service this week, including Freedom of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, and Jewel of the Seas.

Even better, more ships are set to resume service over the course of July and August.  Check out our list of all the test cruises scheduled right now.

Royal Caribbean News

• Judge denies CDC request to hold off on Conditional Sail Order injunction
• First cruise ship returns to Alaska in two years while on test cruise
• Families and kids are the reason why Royal Caribbean is doing test cruises
• Royal Caribbean cancels Australia cruises due to uncertainty in travel restrictions
• Royal Caribbean patents new way to alert cruise ship passengers in their cabin
• Royal Caribbean's rules for cruise ships sailing from Florida in August
• Royal Caribbean releases Alaska cruise ship protocols for August sailings
• Royal Caribbean announces health protocols for Harmony of the Seas from Spain
• Alaska withdraws from Florida's lawsuit against the CDC
• Royal Caribbean's chat feature is now available on every cruise ship
• A look around the big changes on Freedom of the Seas
• Photo tour of new Junior Suite on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas
• Paradise Beach Cozumel 2021 shore excursion review

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 413th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt reviews his recent sailing on Freedom of the Seas.

Freedom of the Seas was the first Royal Caribbean cruise ship to sail from the United States since early 2020, and Matt shares what his experience was like onboard.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

New RCB Video: Top 5 changes Royal Caribbean has made (so far)!

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — Top 5 changes Royal Caribbean has made (so far)! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

8 truths of going on a Royal Caribbean cruise in summer 2021

Cruises are back again in North America and Europe, and while there have only been very few sailings, already a few "new rules" are emerging from the collective experience.

With new protocols, onboard rules, and travel industry trends, there are a few things anyone going on a cruise this summer or fall should know about before they head out.

Based on my experience, here are the top eight new rules I've garnered from going on a Royal Caribbean cruise so far.

Junior Suites are a popular room category for the blend of extra space and not over-the-top pricing it affords guests, and on Freedom of the Seas, they added a few new rooms during her refurbishment.

I am a big fan of any new stateroom added during a refurbishment, because these new staterooms are new construction, and they generally get more storage space and a fresher look than rooms that have been part of the ship since the vessel launched.

During Royal Caribbean's recent upgrades as part of the Royal Amplification, new staterooms have been added to ships in places that did not have cabins.  Sure, it adds a little more revenue for the cruise line, but it also offers new cabin choices for guests.

On my Freedom of the Seas cruise in 2021, I booked one of the new staterooms on deck 11, to the left of the Vitality Spa in the forward area of the ship. The nice thing about this location is it is directly adjacent to the Solarium, which makes it very convenient to get to your room from the pool deck.

I stayed in stateroom 1152, which is a Category J3 Junior Suite which can accommodate up to 4 guests.

Despite the name "suite" in the room category, a Junior Suite is more like an extra large balcony than a true suite, but it does offer a lot more living space than you will get in a standard balcony room.

The stateroom measures 299 square feet of living space.

Walking into the room, you can quickly get a sense of the space and notice the fresh look the room has since it is new construction.

The first thing I noticed is just how much storage space there is in this cabin.

Like all Junior Suite rooms, there is a large closet where you can store clothes, hang up garments, and probably stash anything bulky.  

In addition to the closet, there is another full-size closet in the middle of the room, with drawers, dressers, and enough storage space for probably two weeks onboard.

I've noticed with Royal Caribbean's newer cruise ships much more storage space, and that trend has carried forward with its new construction cabins as well.

Another welcome trend is many more outlets, including USB outlets.  The desk area has both.

The bed is a Royal King, which could be converted into two twin beds if need be, along with a large sofa. 

According to Royal Caribbean the sofa can convert into a double bed, although I did not try it out.

Pro tip, there is a USB charger on the side of the phone next to the bed.

The bathroom looks similar to a balcony bathroom, although it has a full tub instead of a stand up shower.

Being a Junior Suite, your balcony is also extra large and it has a nice enclosed space to enjoy.  I prefer this set up because it means there is shade on the balcony during certain times of the day.

The balcony is indeed quite large, with enough space for two lounge chairs, a table, and two chairs. It measures 65 square feet.

You might notice the window washing equipment that was blocking part of the window.  This is a trade off of these new rooms being in a new location.  The washer unit is not always there, but it seemed to be stationed there when not in use.

Personally, I did not mind it since the balcony is wide enough to have most of it unobstructed, although I do not spend that much time on my balcony (especially on a short 3-night sailing).

Alaska celebrated the return of the first big cruise ship on Friday with the arrival of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship on a simulated voyage.

Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas pulled into Ketchikan to a warm welcome of state and local dignitaries.

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Lieutenant Governor Kevin Meyer, and City of Ketchikan Mayor Bob Sivertsen joined members from the cruise industry to celebrate Serenade of the Seas being the first large cruise ship to return to Alaska following the suspension of cruise operations due to the pandemic.

While Serenade is there on a test cruise, she represents the return of cruise ship passengers that the Alaskan economy so heavily relies on.

Since cruise operations from U.S. ports were suspended in March 2020, it is estimated that more than 300,000 American jobs have been impacted or lost, with a corresponding loss of over $39 billion in economic activity. 

Nearly 70 percent of the industry’s economic contributions in Alaska benefited local small businesses in 2019 — the highest percentage of any state in the country.

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski spearheaded the effort this year to find a solution for ships to sail from the United States to Alaska this year at a time when Canada had shut its borders to cruise ship traffic.

"I’ve been committed to help bring tourism back for the 2021 season and keep Alaskans afloat through the hardships created by the pandemic," Murkowski said during a press conference at the cruise ship pier.

"I want to thank the other members of the delegation for working with me to get my legislation, the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act, across the finish line. This legislation made it possible to begin to bring cruise ships back to Alaska – so that our communities can have a productive tourist season."

Royal Caribbean was equally happy to be able to return to Alaska as well. Russell Benford, Vice President, Government Relations, Americas, Royal Caribbean Group spoke about the significance of Serenade of the Seas sailing to Alaska, "Proud, resourceful Alaskan communities, which have endured almost two seasons without cruising, will once again welcome cruise visitors to this magnificent destination and I’m sure Alaskan business owners look forward to reigniting the tourism economy and providing for their families."

According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), Nine large cruise ships are currently scheduled to operate in Alaska this year, with 78 sailings to take place through Oct. 21, 2021. 

Royal Caribbean has cruises planned to Alaska on two ships, Serenade of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas.

Assuming she passes her test cruise, Serenade of the Seas is scheduled to begin cruises next week.  Ovation of the Seas' first sailing to Alaska is August 13, although it is not yet known when her test cruise will be.

Royal Caribbean has updated its health protocols for cruise ships sailing from Florida in August.

The line had previously posted some protocols for August sailings, but updated passengers booked onboard with a full set of health protocols, which include face masks, social distancing, vaccine requirements and more.

The new protocols highlights protocols for both vaccinated and unvaccinated guests on sailings departing Florida homeports in August 2021. 

If booked guests do not wish to follow these protocols, Royal Caribbean says they are happy to provide them with a refund or move their sailing into the future when circumstances may have evolved.

The cruise line says these new protocols are especially important to unvaccinated children who are between the ages of 2 and 11.

Vaccine requirements

Royal Caribbean says it, "strongly recommends" all guests 12 years and older be fully vaccinated which means:

• The final dose was given at least 14 days before sailing.
• Proof of vaccination, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) COVID-19 vaccination record card, will be presented.

Fully vaccinated guests have no further testing or insurance requirements to sail.

Unvaccinated Guests 12 and Older

Guests who are 12 years and older and do not have or are unable to provide vaccination documentation will be considered unvaccinated and will have additional testing at their own expense and must follow health and safety protocols described below, including:

• Negative results from a pre-arrival PCR test for COVID-19
• A PCR test at the terminal
• Onboard antigen testing
• Mid-cruise antigen test (on 6+ night sailings)
• Disembarkation antigen test
• Travel insurance requirements
• Shore excursions required to visit ports
• Additional health protocols onboard 

Unvaccinated guests ages 2 to 11 years

Children not yet eligible for the vaccine will undergo additional testing at no additional charge, as well as additional health and safety protocols, including:

• A PCR test for COVID-19 at the terminal
• Onboard antigen testing
• Disembarkation antigen test
• Shore excursions required to visit port
• Additional health protocols onboard

Mandatory insurance for unvaccinated adults

As previously reported, each unvaccinated guest 12 years and older departing from a Florida homeport on a Royal Caribbean International cruise must provide proof of a valid insurance policy that has a minimum of

1. $25,000 per person in medical expense coverage and
2. $50,000 coverage for emergency medical evacuation and no COVID-19 exclusions.

The insurance policy must name the unvaccinated guest as the policy holder or beneficiary and may be purchased from a travel insurance company of the guest’s choosing or through the Royal Caribbean Travel Protection Program, which includes this coverage. Insurance is required for sailings from August 1 through December 31, 2021 (except for bookings made between March 19, 2021 and June 28, 2021).

Face masks

When indoors, CDC guidelines require all guests 2 years and older to wear masks unless they are actively eating or drinking. 

In designated areas of the ship meant specifically for vaccinated guests only, masks can be removed.

Masks are not required in their stateroom when they are with their traveling party, outside on the open decks, or at Perfect Day at CocoCay, unless in a crowded setting.

Rules for areas of the ship

Dining: For Main Dining, Royal Caribbean will designate areas for everyone, including parents and unvaccinated children, and areas for vaccinated parties only. My Time Dining will not be available to parties that include unvaccinated guests. Some specialty restaurants will be open to everyone, while others will be for vaccinated parties only. If your clients prefer a buffet, Windjammer will be open to everyone for breakfast and lunch, and the food will be served by our crew. Royal Caribbean recommends that you make dining reservations via Cruise Planner before the cruise or the Royal Caribbean app once onboard. Grab-and-go cafes will also be available for everyone. ​

Bars and Lounges: Many bars and lounges will be open to everyone and others will be available to vaccinated guests only. There will be crew stationed nearby and signage to help direct guests.

Casino: Given the casino’s physical constraints, there is not enough space to accommodate everyone. Given most of our adult guests are vaccinated, the casino will be open to vaccinated guests only.

Fitness and Spa: The Fitness Center will have dedicated operating hours for everyone as well as hours reserved for vaccinated guests only. Salon services will be available to everyone but given the enclosed space and longer length of spa services, the treatment rooms used to provide facials, massages and other services will only be available to vaccinated guests.

Entertainment: Entertainment venues will offer spaced seating and more showtimes throughout the cruise. Select showtimes will be for everyone and other showtimes for vaccinated guests only. Reservations can be made once onboard using the Royal Caribbean app.

Diamond Lounge for Loyalty Members: The Diamond Lounge will be open and operating at 50 percent capacity to allow for physical distancing.

Adventure Ocean and Teen Lounges: Youth spaces will be open to all children and teens.

Shore Excursions

Fully vaccinated parties have the choice of booking a shore excursion or visiting freely.

Parties that wish to go ashore and include any unvaccinated guests, including parents traveling with unvaccinated children, must book a shore excursion through Royal Caribbean.

Vaccinated parents wishing to go ashore freely can drop kids off at Adventure Ocean and reserve time for their child on the day they wish to go in port.

Other protocols

Check out health protocols from other ships already announced:

• Freedom of the Seas from Miami in July
• Serenade of the Seas from Seattle in July
• Cruises from Alaska in August
• Harmony of the Seas from Spain